Cylinders from Borchardt

[Green Frog]

Has anyone here tried one of the replacement SBH cylinders from Al Storey at Borchardt Rifles?
As I understand, he offers them as drop in, finished cylinders in select calibers and as unfinished with pilot holes for the chambers. If feasible, I thinking of getting one to chamber to 327 FM to add to my Buckeye Spl 32 combo while retaining the original parts. That way I can have one BH for all 32 pistol cases unless I decide I need to shoot that 30 Super Carry too!
TIA ~ Froggie

 

[Richard76]

that's how I came to find this forum. I was looking for the same thing. I believe he was one of the gunsmiths I reached out to. I don't remember all the details but it seemed like they wanted a donor cylinder which I didn't want to give up one and it seems like a lot of people are also searching for either the 32-20 or 32 mag cylinder to make a complete set so they are very hard to come by.
If you come up with a reasonably priced option I would be interested in one myself

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

Seems like I read where a couple of the big name pistolsmiths stated that they would rather fabricate a cylinder from suitable round stock, as use one of the Borchardt cylinders. They didn't bad-mouth his cylinders, just stated that they preferred not to use them.

 

[NikA]

At one time he was almost impossible to reach by phone or email, that was several years ago so things may have improved.

His Single Six cylinders are made of 1144 which is nice for machining but not what I would choose for a revolver cylinder. Certainly not one for a high pressure round like .327.

 

[DRT]

I had al story make me two 8 shot m2 cylinders for my single six 17 hmr's. Had a problem with one binding up a little sent it back and al fixed it fast. Got a follow up call a few weeks after I got it back asking how everything was working with the cylinders. I would work with them again.

 

[Star43]

I just ordered a 22 Mag 8 shot cylinder just last week. Al was in the hospital but just got home this Tuesday.

 

[Arizonagunsmith]

I ordered a cylinder a year ago and they told me 6 months. I called and called, no one answered the phone.

 

[Star43]

Well they answered my call right away. Perhaps healthwise, things are better now. Either way, I will post and let know when I get my cylinder.

 

[Arizonagunsmith]

I'll call Al next week.

 

[nm.otter]

Al was in the hospital but just got home this Tuesday.

So sorry to hear that. He's had a rough few years.

I ordered a cylinder a year ago and they told me 6 months.

They had some issues with their CNC mill, and replacing one of the servomotors only fixed half of it. His son runs a shop in Houston that was taking up some of the slack and then his machine broke down. I ordered an HM2 cylinder last July and picked it up early December. Shoots and handles quite well.

 

[Star43]

When I spoke to the shop. I was told by a guy working there 14 years that the son is doing the cylinders now in Texas and then sending them to New Mexico to Al's shop to be finished/blued. The employee said the son 's equipment now is all new and the cylinders that they are receiving now are the best they have been for quite a while. He said the tolerances are right on and look great. Again. I should be getting mine on approx 1 week and I will post when I get it and how it looks.

 

[meister mash]

I have been wondering if their super black hawk cylinder will fit my regular black hawk 30 carbine.
Want to do a 762x25 cylinder.
Got the reamer.

 

[Hondo44]

Same size cylinders.

 

[Onty]

Seems like I read where a couple of the big name pistolsmiths stated that they would rather fabricate a cylinder from suitable round stock, as use one of the Borchardt cylinders. They didn't bad-mouth his cylinders, just stated that they preferred not to use them.

At one time he was almost impossible to reach by phone or email, that was several years ago so things may have improved.

His Single Six cylinders are made of 1144 which is nice for machining but not what I would choose for a revolver cylinder. Certainly not one for a high pressure round like .327.

I looked here http://rugercyl.com/ruger-cylinders/ about cylinders for "Ruger Single Shot New Model" and yes, they stated that they "Mfg out 1144 steel."

As for "Ruger 44-40 Replacement Cylinder Drop In", I couldn't spot what kind of steel was used.

However, Cylinders for Super Blackhawk...Unfluted (UF) for maximum strength. SPECS: 4140 chrome moly steel.

As for statement "Unfluted (UF) for maximum strength," I am BSME (retired now), and I am not convinced that unfluted cylinder is stronger than fluted one. We all know that in case of "kaboom" cylinder will give up on thinnest section; outside wall, usually compounded with bolt notch, even if notch is somewhat offset.

Just personal; I never liked smooth, unfluted cylinder. Until recently I had Uberti 1858 Target. Nicely fitted and finished revolver, but to put cylinder in the frame requires slight rotation of cylinder to overcame hand's spring. If cylinder and fingers have even slight amount of oil or grease, it's not gonna be easy. Almost same applies on 7.5" SBH. Bisley is tad better because of those rollmarks, but not much. So, being frustrated, when I decided to get SBH with Bisley grip, I purchased stainless Vaquero Bisley, brand new stainless 5.5" SBH (that has fluted cylinder), swapped grip frames and stocks, hammers and triggers. And, of course, base pin was replaced with Keith's #5.

 

[Star43]

All I know is I have 2 of Al Story's 22 Mag 8 shot cylinders. One in blue and one in "the white", so it looks like stainless and matches my stainless single six very well, and the regular blued one matches my blue SS very well also. To be honest, I ordered one 8 rounder and it came and it looked great, but it didn't fit my old model nor a couple of my other new model single sixes. The cylinder went in and rotated and seemed to spin fine, but the hammer would not go back all of the way. The SS's in question were 80's models still "new" in box and unfired. I called and spoke to Al and he offered a full refund right away. He and also his wife are very nice people. I told him I just wanted one that works. He sent me another one to try and that one just happened to be in the "white". The white works in my stainless very well, and ironically the original blued one works fine in my other gently used 1986 model that I previously had not tried. So, I have the 2 cylinders and am very happy. The folks there are good to talk and work with and they put out a good product. On another note, I watched a you tube video of a guy showing off his customized single six by some well known gun smith customizer and it had the 8 round 22 mag cylinder. The you tube guy mentioned how how he really liked the 8 round capacity cylinder and his customized gun in general....After I watched the video, I checked it out and sure enough, this customizer uses the Borchardt cylinders in the guns he works with, along with other customizer people....In short, I like the Borchardt cylinders and glad I have them. Al has well over 65 years experience in being a machinist and knows what he is doing. He is getting up there in age and I am glad he is still in business...

 

[Brules]

I visited Al Story's shop one time a number of years ago. It's a very small shop with basically Al and one other guy working. Al had talked about selling the whole shop, but I don't think he found a buyer. Al showed me a custom single shot 22LR pistol he built from scratch. Al's a great guy and the cylinders he produced are FIRST rate.

 

[Star43]

I agree 100%. He is a Master machinist with all those years of experience and is a good guy. I spoke to the employee once when Al was in the hospital a couple months back. He is a good guy too. He works on rifle barrels. Al's son in Texas helps out in producing the actual cylinders now. The son's equipment is all new and according to the employee, these cylinders produced now are very top notch. I'm glad I have mine. Also when you call there, sometimes Al picks up the phone, but 90% of the time his wife answers. She is very, very nice. Yes, they don't do emails and such, and do things over the phone. That part of them is "old school".....and me for one, I like "old school"....How many other places, no matter the business, you call and all you get is a machine , or some artificial intelligence thing there.....Yeah, I like the way they work and the products they make...He may start doing some 9mm cylinders again down the road. I inquired about them, and it may happen, but he is trying to get caught up right now...